Commemorating notable 1812 conflicts at Iroquois

The Iroquois Matilda Lions Club is hosting Iroquois' 1812 Commemoration event to be held on the 9th of November 2013.

Four historic plaques will be located on the Point overlooking the Iroquois Lock.

A dedication ceremony and memorial service will be conducted in the morning.

The SD&G Highlanders will be represented and participate in the ceremonies as well as re-enactors from New York State, Ontario and Quebec.

In the afternoon a re-enactment of the 7th of November 1813 skirmish will take place in the same park.

Displays from various organizations and individuals can be viewed that day in the Iroquois Civic Centre.

One of the organizers of the event, Howard Kirkby, provided a brief history of the of the armed conflicts that took place 1812-1814.

“Following the US declaration of war against Great Britain on the 18th of June 1812, a number of military engagements were pursued,” said Kirby in a media release. “What is not so widely known is that on two occasions, Point Iroquois and environs witnessed notable armed conflict.”

September 16, 1812 an Ogdensburg force was assembled and captured all but one of the families living on Tousaint Island, in an effort to ambush a British convoy.

A Mohawk, who was not captured, under fire, canoed to the Canadian riverbank to warn the convoy of the pending ambush, which the Canadian/British force attached to the convoy was able to thwart.

In this skirmish, one American was killed and six were wounded, while the British/Canadian force had one killed and several wounded.

November 7, 1813, a force of 10,000 Americans received orders to proceed down the St. Lawrence River, effecting the destruction of all enemy fortifications, and to link up with forces at Lac St. Louis before proceeding to attack an capture Montreal.

While feigning an attack on Kingston, the American commander continued with a flotilla to Ogdensburg. From there, an advance scouting party was engaged in a skirmish by the Dundas Militia that forced the Americans to set up camp at Iroquois Point until November 9.

The skirmish at Point Iroquois resulted in the death of one American soldier and, perhaps significantly, delayed the enemy’s advance long enough for the Canadian militias to assemble near Captain Crysler’s farm and join Morrison’s forces in effecting a victorious battle plan on the 11th of November.

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This question created a heated debate at the December 20th South Dundas council meeting with Deputy-Mayor Jim Locke voicing outrage at the township’s intention to charge local developer, Swank Construction Ltd., for snow removal in the new subdivision east of Iroquois.

He pointed out that there are already two houses in the subdivision whose occupants will be paying taxes to South Dundas. He also reminded council that Swank Construction does a lot for the township in terms of supporting growth.

According to Chief Administrative Officer Stephen McDonald, however, the agreement surrounding snow removal is in the legal contract signed between Swank Construction and South Dundas township.

He maintained, with input from the Manager of Public Works, Hugh Garlough, that the $125 fee for snow removal is within reason. He suggested that Swank hire someone else to clear the roads if he thought the cost was too high.

He further explained that “there are a whole bunch of requirements” that need to be met before the township takes over the responsibility for snow removal in the new subdivision.

Councillor Jim Graham agreed saying, “this is basically a construction site until it’s finished. It doesn’t get turned over to the township until it’s finished.”

Mayor Steven Byvelds added, “you may have a point Deputy-Mayor Locke, but it is what it is.”

Locke put forth a motion: “that we plow the road for zero dollars like we would any other road.”

No one seconded the motion.

Swank Construction will continue to be responsible for snow removal until the new subdivision meets the township’s requirements for completion.

It’s not often that someone packing for a trip includes 1,000 pairs of underwear in their luggage, but that’s what an Ault Island couple did as they prepared to leave for Africa this week.

Gail Hamilton and Brian Barkley left on a mission to a Kenyan orphanage, October 8.

This is the second time Hamilton has made the journey and Barkley’s first.

Eight people are making the trip to the orphanage, the Ebenezer Life Centre in Ahero, Kenya.

The orphanage, run by Bishop Winnie Owiti, is not government supported. It relies on sponsors to cover the day to day needs of the 800 children who live there.

Owiti’s last visit to Canada, when she was here in Morrisburg, is the reason that Hamilton and Barkley decided to pack the 1,000 pairs of underwear.

“When she was here, she bought a bunch of underwear for the children at the orphanage; it was something they needed,” said Barkley. “She packed it in her luggage, and her luggage got lost, never to be found again.”

After hearing the story, Hamilton and Barkley set a goal to take 1,000 new pairs of underwear with them to the orphanage when they made the trip.

“We met and exceeded our goal,” said Hamilton.

They purchased most of the underwear themselves, taking advantage of various close out sales at discount stores, and friends made some donations.

In addition to the approximately $800 spent on underwear, Hamilton and Barkley each raised $2,000 for the orphanage.

While at the orphanage they plan to host a Canada Day event for the children, which will feature fun activities, sports and a special meal.

Hamilton got involved with the orphanage project through her cousin Lorraine Casselman, founder and executive director for the Canadians For the Children of Africa, a non-profit agency.

That was the reason for the first visit for Hamilton.

The reason for the second visit is the children of the orphanage.

“The children made me want to go back. Children here have everything; children there have nothing. The only thing they have is their smiles. They look at life differently.”

Barkley sees this trip as a once in a lifetime opportunity.

Though he is looking forward to the trip he is a unsure of how the experience will affect him.

Hamilton though, is very sure of how Barkley will be affected by the mission.

“His heart, that is already big, will open up even more. It really will. It happens when you get the opportunity to spend time with these children.”

In difficult times for manufacturing businesses in Ontario, a dental burr manufacturer located in Morrisburg is finding a way to survive, and grow.

Joanne Kydd, chief operating officer of Xenopus, and Barry Keicks, the company’s production manager, last week spoke with The Leader about the company’s building expansion.

“We are a wholly-owned Canadian firm, and we intend to stay that way,” said Kydd. “And, we are growing.”

“We knew that if we wanted to stay in manufacturing, in Canada, we needed to be making something really good,” she said, explaining that the main dental burr they are producing, is like the Porsche of dental burrs.

“We produce high quality dental burrs. Our focus is on quality, and that focus on quality will continue with this expansion,” said Kydd.

The major burr being produced by Xenopus is an all purpose burr favoured by the European market, among others.

“It’s a niche market that we’ve nestled into,” said Kydd.

Keicks said that gross production at Xenopus has increased over 60 per cent over the last five years.

Kydd adds that the increase has been steady, and has allowed them to maintain product quality.

Money has been spent on research and development and three new machines have been developed, in house, to improve processes.

This solid and steady growth has enabled Xenopus to similarly grow their workforce, having hired an additional 12 people over the last three years.

“That’s a lot when you are small company,” said Kydd.

Xenopus has a workforce of less than 50.

Kydd and Keicks agree that being a small company is an asset.

“When you are small, everyone works together,” said Keicks. “That’s the only way we move forward,” added Kydd.

The company’s increase in sales has allowed Xenopus to invest, most importantly, in its people.

“It takes about two years to learn to do the job well here,” says Keicks. “When you want to make a quality product, you need a stable and experienced workforce.”

That workforce will soon be benefiting from an expanded workspace.

With local contractors, Xenopus is breaking ground on a building addition this week that will double the work area, providing an opportunity for added efficiency.

The front portion of the building will be demolished to make way for a 2,000 square foot addition. The project is expected to be complete in September.

In the end, the 2,000 square foot addition will increase workspace, and add new offices and a sales area to the business that has been in the Morrisburg industrial park since 1991.

While the focus of this addition is on improved efficiency, Kydd expects add new staff annually.